The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-30
The Pastors snnfr-hox.

the pastor, and his wife a happy
couple, and so they werein the main,
and yet the wife was daily heard to
declare that she had a rival in her
husbands affections She might sit
alone while he a out on Official bus
iness, but the rival was always with
him. Whatever else was left behind
him, the rival was forgotten.
By day it was snug IN the pastors
pocket, by night it was OF the table
beside him, where he could lay his
hand on 1.-THE first thing in the norm
ina, or take a comfortable pinch in
the night ii he should chance to be
restless and wakeful.
1t happened one evening that the
pastor with his snuff-box beside him,
mad had his usual family prayer. He
mad asked God to bless him and his
family in his own simple way, and
had left himself and his dear ones in
the hands Of his Heavenly Father
with a trust that banished all care
and anxiety.
PRAYER always seemed a source of
sunshine TO the good pastor, and
when lie bade the servants good
night" in his own friendly way, his
c~ountenance was beeming with kindli-
ness.
Wife" he said. as soon as
they were left alone together;
II wish everybody had as hap
.py a home as we nave, ana ne
gave her a benevolent smile. She
glanced knowingly at the snuf-box,
the fly in her ointment, the one bitter
drop in her cup, but he did not see
the meaning expression. for q new
Jnought had struck him. ~ saw
GRrl to-day, that son OF old Nils ne
said, ''the one who came out OF pris-
on last month. Icouid not get him
to look at me when / wanted to give
him a friendly word. Poor fellow, he
looked sullen and hard, and so shah.
by. think it might help to keep him
up if he looked more respectable, and
was at least warm this cold weather.
There's that shaggy overcoat OF mine;
/ have not had it on for months, it is
a little too tight over the breast, too;
it would just do for him."
hG DdobOk tAGNSL AO0Alo dl9 l6uAI VIVA
his clothes unless he wanted to give
them away, and then he sud0Rnly be.
came a very dandy for particularly.
"I'll have it out and send it to him in
the morning. II ! see it on the chair /
shall be sure not to forget it," said
the pastor, as he moved toward the
door the closet at the other end ofthe
long dining-room. OF course he must
have the dear snutf-box in one hand;
he did not lay that down. The other
held the candle, and vet he managed
to get the door open.
Let me take the candle" said his
wife, starting to 20 to help him. Be-
fore she reached him she heard him
exclaim:
"AVhat a pity! Ihave dropped it,"
She did not need to ask what ne had
dropped, for the air was redoIentw with
the snuff that set her to ~sneezing in
earnest. They stopped down-for
they were careful, economical people
at the parsonage-to save what might
be saved of the brown heap that lay
on the floor, when suddenly a terrible
sneeze from the closet made them
start up in astonishment.
They looked through the open door.
There was the expected array otcoats
and thick wrappings, but more bulky
than usual, and below the pastors
fur cloak a pair of coarse, muddy
boots that never couldkave belonged
to the neat master OF the house.
The pastor reached his hand for the
poker and stepped forward again,
waving his wife back and endeayoring
to stand before her. Size was not to
be shielded, and there was fcs asecond
almost a struggle who should be near
est the intruder.
"Come out and let us sea what you
are liket. said the pastor, boldly.
Thus Summoned, there was q stir
among the garments and a slouching.
broad-shouldered young mar stood
before his questioner. There was no
trace Of the boastfnl rnfiian that
could swagger and threaten among
his comrades now. The stout peas
ant looked more like q guilty school
boy before an offended master than
like the daredevil burglar he had
felt himself when ne had sneake1
in the twilight to his hiding,place. He
had smiled at the pastors trustful
prayer and wondered what could pro-
tect that old head if he should choose
20 give the sleeper q dow With the
stout cudeel he held il his hand. Not
that he planned any such deed, out
he could il he would, and he might be
Obliged to defend himself il he
were interrupted in seizing the pride
Of the pastor and his wife-the old
silver that stood on the side
He mad felt desperate, cast
of. and hopeless. There was no.
chance for him here in Leyeden. He
would steal what would enable him
to find his way TO a far-away land,
at least no one could point at
him che finger of shame. The solemn
voice Of the pastor in prayer had not
touched the young rascal. but when
he heard his own name kindly mem
and found the good man PLAN
ming for his comfort, his courage went
him, and now he stood with his
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